Dumb question but could that slant wire feed configuration work at 50kW?
And what exactly is transmitting energy in this set up? The wire itself or the tower? Or both?
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And what exactly is transmitting energy in this set up? The wire itself or the tower? Or both?
I can't see them investing too much in this setup -- it would appear to be temporary in n
Pumping 50kW into this antenna would likely not provide the required nighttime protection to the Bakersfield station. Also, why would they spend the money on power and engineering for what is likely a temporary setup? Very few people will listen, anyway...
The wire itself is the antenna; there are insulators at the end where it's attached to the tower.
Wasn't there a rather famous wooden tower in the Dakotas that had the actual wire "antenna" hung down the center of what was essentially a scaffolding made of wood?
When I was young, some friends of my father took us to the roof of the Mott Foundation Building in Flint, where the two WFDF self supporting towers were located that suspended the hammock style antenna they used from 1930 to 1941, even while the main facility with the new DA antenna built for 910 (applied for 880 pre NARBA) from 1310 to 910 was being completed, The 100 watt AUX remained there until the 1950s. There were wires extending from the towers visible partially buried in the asphalt roof. Of course I was too young to know what they were at the time. Oddly enough, they were both running Radio Disney (WQEW was an LMA) until both were sold circa 2015. The self supporting towers are still there, and are used for utility communications. They had to add FAA lighting for the first time after Genesee Towers was demolished next door in 2015.
You can see the towers on the right side of the picture at this link.
400px-Genesee-towers-flint-mi.jpg
You can see the towers on the right side of the picture at this link.
400px-Genesee-towers-flint-mi.jpg
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Since we are not privy to the closed door decisions which may or may not have yet been determined, it is possible that the old 1560 site may yet show up with a similar 10Q scenario.
Solves the problem very well with not only a comparable signal as before, and with a boatload of money to pay the rent by moving 20 feet up, if in fact they are only going to use the property for parking and a few offices.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
I don't know about that. Back in January, Tom Ray (their engineer) posted that the rent on that site was prohibitively expensive, and that was why they shut it all down in February rather than lease the space temporarily.
There is no reason to believe 1560 will be returning to that site.
The LA 1020/1150 works because it's entirely on top of warehouses. The new use of the Maspeth site will involve a lot of open parking lots and trucks moving around, and that's not compatible with high-power AM overhead.
Whatever future 1560 has, if any, it's almost certainly on the west side of the Hudson.
There is no reason to think it wouldn't or couldn't.
New York City has a tendency to get pretty cold for most of the year and there are plenty of warehouses which have "indoor" facilities for those days which have people dreaming of Florida...
Sounds like a match made in Heaven for the Fam!
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
With all respect, and more, due to Tom Ray, the decisions are probably being made on the Left Coast.
After 51Million reasons to shut it down, they now have a few reasons to bring it right back.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
I agree, and that's likely who told him that leasing in Maspeth was not an option.
It is a fluid situation.
True, moving to West Orange with 10kw sounds as though it could be a good short term solution, especially, given the current state of AM radio, but, if I was to pay $51M for warehouse space, I'd like to be able to see how I can recoup some of that dinero.
A 50kw AM array on the roof may help to pay down that debt faster, even if it is to the people to whom I just gave that much money.
I'd be making money below the roof, it only makes sense if somebody is willing to pay me above the roof.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
Sounds like the conductivity in the STA area probably doesn't exceed 0.5 mS/m.
The problem is that the location is not a good one for that station. The night signal is directional to the East, and the population is, for the most part, to the West. Somewhere in NJ is the obvious solution if the station is to come back; diplexing with another station would be the best solution of all.
As the population East of the Hudson increased, it made sense to use the swamplands to the West of the Hudson. And diplexing in the Secaucus porcupine area could work since the 1560Khz shorter wavelength won't require adding to the existing tower as it would if it were, say WMCA's 570Khz requirement.
Closed door negotiations are probably on-going, as evidenced by the fact it will return on an STA.
Signal rational and population is not always the end all solution in this climate.
The bottom line dollar will determine the location as further evidenced by the fact that we are talking about a 50kw NYC silent station because the property was worth more than the signal.
But, the new company will have to do something to guarantee recurring revenue lest that property gets flipped once again for a multiple floor structure. How about 40 feet? Make a two floor warehouse, with a few office floors above.
The options are endless and money is no object for New York City.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
That's really the problem, I suppose. Money is no object to New York developers, but it is to Family Stations. Something as complicated as you propose, with a multistory building mixed into the transmit facility would require an interested developer partner with deep pockets - and probably years to secure the permits.
Here's what FCCdata says about the STA: 12.5kw, day and night, non-directional, from a 116.1° 62m radiator.
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The slant feed explains the low efficiency of 225 mV/m @ 1 kW @ 1 km. Otherwise, it would be around 325 mV/m @ 1 kw @ 1 km for 116.1 degrees.
Inverse field would be 795.5 mV/m @ 1 km. I'll measure the skywave when I get a chance. My first estimate in my locations is 600 uV/m 10% skywave. Since Michigan is in the after Sunset protected service area, it should be receivable though not great.
Hopefully, rfry will chime in with more exact figures.
Inverse field would be 795.5 mV/m @ 1 km. I'll measure the skywave when I get a chance. My first estimate in my locations is 600 uV/m 10% skywave. Since Michigan is in the after Sunset protected service area, it should be receivable though not great.
Hopefully, rfry will chime in with more exact figures.
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